Self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge for endless ribbons

ABSTRACT

A ribbon cartridge having self-contained tensioning and reinking means is provided with a plurality of cylindrical interior compartments effective for receiving the print wheel and a friction feed roller of an impacting printing device, the cartridge being removably attachable to the printing device by means of a supporting platform such that the print wheel is operably disposed within a first of said cylindrical compartments and the friction feed roller is operably disposed within a second of said compartments, the self-tensioning means of the cartridge serving to hold the ribbon in a taut state in a printing position adjacent the print wheel and to hold the ribbon in frictional contact with a cylindrical re-inking member disposed in a third cylindrical compartment. The inked ribbon in the form of an endless loop is movably disposed within an interior peripheral channel formed in the cartridge and communicating with discontinuities formed in the walls of each of the three cylindrical compartments, the self-tensioning means being comprised of a plurality of ridge-like deformations formed in the channel.

Minted States Patent 1191 1111 3,831,731 Mack et a1, 1 1 Aug. 27, 1974 SELF-TENSIONING AND RE-INKING 3,621,968 11/1971 Kondur 197/151 RIBBON CARTRIDGE FOR ENDLESS 3,643,777 2/ 1972 Anderson et a1. 197/151 RIBBONS 3,643,779 2/1972 Anderson 61111. 197/151 3,682,407 8/1972 Lichtenstein et a1. 197/151 x [75] Inventors: Ronald H. Mack; John Bortins, both of Plymouth, Mich. [73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

[221 Filed: Oct. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 301,641

[52] US. Cl 197/168, 197/48, 197/127 R, 197/133 T, 197/151, 197/171 [51] 1nt.Cl B4lj 33/10 [58] Field of Search ..197/151,168,171; 242/5553, 71.1, 71.8, 71.8 A; 101/336 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 314,090 3/1885 Weston et a1 242/5553 2,464,042 3/1949 lnskeep 101/336 2,614,676 10/1952 'Pessoa 1 197/168 2,755,905 7/1956 197/168 2,986,260 5/1961 197/151 3,075,627 1/1963 Kuckhoff 197/151 3,349,887 10/1967 197/151 3,356,202 12/1967 197/151 3,481,551 12/1969 Steelman 242/718 A X 3,490,671 H1970 Hladky 197/168 UX 3,568,943 3/1971 Robak 242/71.1 X 3,604,549 9/1971 Caudill et a1. 197/151 3,617,010 ll/1971 242/71.8X 3,618,869 11/1971 Cialone et a1 197/151 Primary Examiner-Emest T. Wright, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edwin W. Urcn; Paul W. Fish; Charles S. Hall 1 1 ABSTRACT A ribbon cartridge having self-contained tensioning and re-inking means is provided with a plurality of cy lindrical interior compartments effective for receiving the print wheel and a friction feed roller of an impacting printing device, the cartridge being removably at tachable to the printing device by means of a supporting platform such that the print wheel is operably disposed within a first of said cylindrical compartments and the friction feed roller is operably disposed within a second of said compartments, the selftensioning means of the cartridge serving to hold the ribbon in a taut state in a printing position adjacent the print wheel and to hold the ribbon in frictional contact with a cylindrical re-inking member disposed in a third cylindrical compartment. The inked ribbon in the form of an endless loop is movably disposed within an interior peripheral channel formed in the cartridge and communicating with discontinuities formed in the walls of each of the three cylindrical compartments, the self-tensioning means being comprised of a plurality of ridge 1ike deformations formed in the channel.

15 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures CROSS REFERENCE vTO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present invention is related to US. Pat. applica tion Ser. No. 285,210 titled Incremental Feed Device For Advancing Paper Tape, Record Cards and an Inked Ribbon in a Printer, such application having been filed by Ronald H. Mack and John Bortins on Aug. 31, 1972 and assigned to the assignee of the pres ent invention. The relationship of the present invention to this referenced patent application stems from their joint utilization in a printing device particularly adapted for use in a terminal unit ofa computer system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Impact-type printing devices commonly employ inked ribbons for transferring character images from the printing type to the printable media, such ribbons being variously disposed and operably supported in the area ofthe printing station and commonly in interposed relationship relative to the printing type and the printable media. Such known printing devices generally provide for the arrangement ofthe inked ribbon in the area of the printing station with the ends of the ribbon anchored to a pair of ribbon spools which are disposed on either side of the station, the inked ribbon being transferably movable between the two spools by a variety of ribbon feed structures such that a fresh area of the ribbon is moved into printing position for the printing of each character image. These particular inked ribbon arrangements, and ribbon feed devices therefor, are generally characterized by certain operational disadvantages particularly with respect to ribbon removal and replacement. Additionally, known ribbon feed structures have generally been characterized by certain cost disadvantages, particularly with respect to initial manufacturing costs and to subsequent maintenance costs. Such two-spool inked ribbon arrangements have further been characterized by a lack of suitable and effective re-inking means, further contributing to the fre quency and inconvenience of ribbon removal and replacement.

Self-contained ribbon cartridges have also been disclosed in the prior art, such as in the Knodur US. Pat. No. 3,621,968, also assigned to the Burroughs Corporation, wherein many of the disadvantages of the twospool ribbon arrangements have been overcome, and wherein internal self-tensioning and re-inking means are provided. Such removably attachable ribbon cartridges are responsive to external ribbon feed means to move the ribbon through a printing position defined thereby. These self-contained ribbon cartridges have generally been characterized, however, by relatively complex internal structures involving a plurality of movable parts such as rotatable rollers and springactuated tensioning means, thereby adding to their cost of manufacture and maintenance. Known selfcontained ribbon cartridges have further been designed for attachment to the printing device in extrinsic rather than cohabiting relationship to the printing element or elements, thereby contributing little or nothing to the objective of printer compactness.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a self-contained inked ribbon cartridge that is economical to manufacture and to maintain, such economy arising through the provision of internal selftensioning and re-inking means that are devoid of moving parts such as rollers and springs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a self-contained inked ribbon cartridge that is both compact in size and that contributes significantly to the overall compactness of the printing device itself, such overall compactness being realized by the sharing of space as between the ribbon cartridge and the printing element.

An important aspect of the invention is the provision in a self-contained inked ribbon cartridge of a first and a second end-opening cylindrical compartment, the first compartment being effective for operably accommodating a print wheel of the printing device, and the second compartment being effective for operably housing a friction roller of the ribbon feed means, the endopening characteristic of the first and second cylindrical compartments being provided by circular apertures formed in a base cover of the cartridge which is brought into supportable contact with a platform of the printing device when the cartridge is installed thereon.

Another important aspect of the invention is the pro vision of a third cylindrical compartment for retainably housing a re-inking member which is effective for absorbably retaining an ink supply, each of the three cylindrical compartments having a wall discontinuity out wardly disposed of the cartridge and adjacent the periphery thereof.

Another important aspect of the invention is the an rangement of an endless inked ribbon in a peripheral channel formed by predeterminedly configured partitions normally fixed to the top case panel of the cartridge, such channel communicating with the wall discontinuities of the first, second and third cylindrical compartments, a portion of the channel defining a print position linearly and parallelly disposed relative to one of the edges of the cartridge.

Still another apsect of the invention is the provision of a plurality of ridge-like deformations integrally formed in the walls of the peripheral channel, such deformations providing a first tensioning means effective for holding the ribbon in frictional. contact with the ey lindrical re-inking member, a second tensioning means effective for holding the ribbon in a taut state in the print position, and a third tensioning means effective for holding the ribbon in frictional contact with the friction roller of the ribbon feed means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, advantages and aspects of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing device incorporating the inventive self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge, the cartridge being shown in installed relationship relative thereto and in cooperating relationship with a friction feed roller and a print hammer of the printing device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the printing device of FIG. I showing the inventive ribbon cartridge in phantom lines to reveal its cooperable relationship relative to the print wheel and the friction feed roller;

FIG. 3 is a perspective elevational view of the printing device and of the print wheel and friction feed roller thereof extending upwardly of a cartridge supporting platform, a pair of guide pins fixed to such platform also being shown;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the inventive ribbon cartridge showing the print position of the ribbon as defined by a pair of ramps formed in the ribbon channel, and showing also the ribbon in communicating relationship relative to the wall discontinuity formed in the cylindrical compartment for housing the friction feed roller;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cartridge with the base cover removed to. reveal the various cylindrical compartments and the peripheral channel for movably housing the endless inked ribbon;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the base cover in its disassembled state;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the internal structure of the cartridge taken along the line 77 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the internal structure taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention resides in the provision of an endless loop inked ribbon disposed in the peripheral channel of a self-tensioning and re-inking cartridge, the cartridge comprising a plurality of predeterminedly configured partitions defining a plurality of cylindrical compartments for operatively accommodating the print wheel and the friction feed roller of a printing device, and for accommodating a cylindrical re-inking member operably housed within the cartridge, a plurality of ridge-like deformations being formed in the peripheral channel to hold the ribbon in frictional contact with the re-inking member and with the friction feed roller, and to hold the ribbon in a taut state in a print position adjacent the print wheel.

The inventive self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge, designated 13 in the various drawing figures, is utilizable in printing devices of the type illustrated in FIGS. I, 2 and 3, such illustrated device providing a selectively rotatable print wheel 3, impacting means 4, a friction ribbon feed roller 5, and means for positioning and feeding a paper tape 7, such paper tape positioning and feeding means including positioning members 6 and 8 and feeding members It) and 12. The printing device may also be provided with incremental feed means generally designated at I4 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, such incremental feed means 14, including a motor 16, a drive belt I8, a feed gear 20, and tri-planed gearing 22 and 24 coupled to a plurality of feed shafts 26, 28 and 30, being effective for incrementally advancing the paper tape 7, a record card 9, and an endless inked ribbon 11 disposed within the cartridge 13. The paper tape feed ing member is fixed to the feed shaft 26, and the friction ribbon feed roller 5 is fixed to the feed shaft 30.

The preferred embodiment of the self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge I3 may best be described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 8, and in particular with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the cartridge is generally designated at I3 and is shown to be comprised of a case I5 and a base cover 17, the case I5 being comprised of a plurality of predeterminedly configured partitions generally designated at I9, and a plurality of cover-retaining pins 21, the partitions l9 and pins 21 being fixed to the underside of the top case panel and normally disposed relative thereto. The outer ends of the pins 21 are provided with reduced diameters which are individually receivable within a plurality of pin holes 23 in the base cover 17, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The configuration of the partitions I9 is such as to provide a first and second cylindrical compartment 25 and 27, for operably accommodating the print wheel 3 and the friction feed roller 5, respectively. A third cylindrical compartment 29 is additionally provided for retainably accommodating a re-inking member 31. As will be apparent from FIG. 6, the base cover I7 is provided with a pair of substantially circular cutouts 33 and 35 which coincide with the cylindrical compartments 25 and 27 of the case 15 when the base cover 17 is assembled in place by means of the pins 21 and the holes 23, and by means of a snug fit of a pair of registry projections 37 formed on opposite sides of the case 15 within a pair of recesses 39 formed in the outer periphery of the base cover 17. It will accordingly be apparent that when the base cover 17 is assembled on the case 15, the cylindrical compartments 25 and 27 will assume an end-opening characteristic, whereas the cylindrical compartment 29 will be enclosed on both ends to thereby provide full retention of the re'inking member 31.

The re-inking member 31 may be comprised of any well known absorbent formable material suitable for retaining and contactably dispensing ink to the inked ribbon II, the diameter of the formed re-inking member 31 being slightly less than the diameter of the cylindrical compartment 29, such that the re-inking member 31 may not be constricted nor its absorptive quality diminished.

It is to be noted that each of the cylindrical compartments 25, 27 and 29 is provided with a wall discontinuity, as illustrated at ll, 43, and in FIG. 5, such discontinuities 41, 43 and 45 being located adjacent the outer periphery of the case 15. The predetermined configuration of the partitions I9 also provides a peripheral channel 47 for movably housing the endless loop ribbon ll, such channel 47 comprising a plurality of hereinafter described ridge-like deformations, and a pair of slightly inclined ramps 49 defining a print position of the ribbon II effectively spanning the wall discontinuity M of the first cylindrical compartment 25. Included in the plurality of ridge-like deformations formed in the channel 47 are a pair of V-shaped projections SI and 53 ofa first ribbon tensioning means, such projections 51 and 53 in cooperation with the terminal wall ends defining the wall discontinuity 45 of the cylindrical compartment 29 serving to hold the ribbon 11 in frictional contact with the re-inking member 31. In addition, a pair of V-shaped projections 55 and 57 extending from the outer wall of the peripheral channel 47 intermediate the wall discontinuities 41 and 45 of the cylindrical compartments 25 and 29, and a V- shaped projection extending from the inner wall of the channel 47 intermediate the projections 55 and 57, serve to define a second tensioning means effective, when the ribbon 11 is rotated in a clockwise direction by the hereinafter described operation of the friction feed roller 5, to hold the ribbon 11 in a taut state in the print position, such print position being defined by the wall discontinuity 41 of the first cylindrical compartment 25. The V-shaped projections 55, 57, and 65 are each provided with correspondingly formed V-shaped recesses 61, 63 and 66, respectively, so as not to impingably restrict the movement of the ribbon 11 in the channel 47. A V-shaped projection 59 extending from the outer wall of the channel 47 and a right-angle formation 58 of the partitions 19 serve to define a third tensioning means effective for holding the ribbon 11 in frictional contact with the friction feed roller 5. The V- shaped projections 51, 53, 55, 57 and 59 may be formed by deformations in the case itself, as illustrated at 67 in FIG. 4.

The predetermined configuration of the partitions 19 of the case 15 also provides a pair of guideway channels 69 disposed on opposite sides of the cylindrical compartment 25, such guideway channels 69 serving to receive a pair of guide pins 71 when the cartridge 13 is installed on a platform 73 of the printing device, such pins 71 and platform 73 being best illustrated in FIG. 3.

Installation of the inventive self-tensioning and reinking ribbon cartridge 13 on the platform 73 illustrated in FIG. 3 may be described in two phases, the first being directed to the assembly and conditioning of the cartridge 13 itself, and the second to the assembly of the cartridge 13 on the platform 73. The first step in assembling the cartridge 13 is the insertion and placement of the inked ribbon 11 in the peripheral channel 47 followed by the deposition of a supply of ink in the absorbent re-inking member 31 in the third cylindrical compartment 29. Once the ribbon 11 and a suitable ink supply have been inserted and deposited in the case 15, the base cover 17 is assembled to the case 15 by means of the pins 21 of the case 15 and the holes 23 of the base cover 17, the registry projections 37 of the case 15 being received in the recesses 39 of the base cover 17 to thereby align the circular cut-outs 33 and with the cylindrical compartments 25 and 27, respectively, and to align a pair of cut-outs 75 formed in the base cover 17, on opposite sides of the circular cut-out 33, with the guideway channels 69 formed in the case 15. Installation of the assembled cartridge 13 on the platform 73 is effectuated by disengaging an idler roller 77, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, from the friction roller 5, and by lowering the cartridge 13 onto the platform 73 in such manner that the pair of guide pins 71 are received in the guideway channels 69, and the print wheel 3 and friction roller 5 are received by the cylindrical compartments 25 and 27, respectively, without interfering with the ribbon 11, it being necessary to assure that the ribbon 11 is disposed on the outboard side of the friction roller 5. Disengagement of the idler roller 77 from the roller 5 is conveniently accomplished by manual manipulation of a resilient supporting member 79, also illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. When the cartridge 13 is properly installed on the platform 73, the resilient supporting member 79 is released to thereby impinge the ribbon 11 between the friction roller 5 and the idler roller 77.

Operation of the incremental feed device generally designated at 14 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and fully described in the above-referenced patent application Ser. No. 285,2]0 titled Incremental Feed Device For Advancing Paper Tape, Record Cards and an Inked Ribbon in a Printer, is effective to incrementally rotate the friction roller 5 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), and to thereby rotate the ribbon 11 in a counterclockwise direction in the channel 47 formed in the case 15, as viewed in FIG. 4 (clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5). With reference to FIG. 5, it can be seen that clockwise rotation of the ribbon 11 in the channel 47 results in the application of a dragging tension to the ribbon 11 in the area of the print position, by means of the V-shaped Projections 55, 65, and 57 of the second tensioning means, the ribbon 11 being additionally held in frictional dragging contact with the cylindrical re-inking member 31 by the V-shaped projections 51 and 53 of the first tensioning means, such frictional contact between the ribbon 11 and the re-inking member 31 serving to effectively redistribute the ink in the ribbon 11 andto introduce a new supply of ink thereto as the ribbon 11 rotates thereby.

While a preferred embodiment of the self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge has been shown and described in considerable detail, it will be understood that many variations therein, and particularly in the number and arrangement of the channel deformations comprising the tensioning means, may be :made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge for use in a printing device for printing on a paper tape, said printing device having a friction ribbon feed roller and a selectively rotatable print wheel with type characters disposed along the periphery thereof, said cartridge comprising:

a. a case having predeterminedly configured partitions and a plurality of pins disposed normally to the case, such partitions forming a first, second and third cylindrical compartment each having a wall discontinuity, and forming also a peripheral channel communicating with each of said cylindrical compartments at said wall discontinuity thereof, said first cylindrical compartment operably accommodating said rotatable print wheel and said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction ribbon feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device,

b. an endless inked ribbon movably disposed within said peripheral channel in communicating relationship with said wall discontinuities of said first, said second and said third cylindrical compartments, and in cooperating driven relationship with said friction ribbon feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device,

0. a pair of ramps formed in said peripheral channel by predetermined portions of said partitions, said ramps being disposed in straddling relationship rel ative to said wall discontinuity of said first cylindrical compartment such that said endless inked ribbon is linearly disposed to define a print position parallel to an outer edge of said case,

01. a cylindrical re-inking member disposed within said third cylindrical compartment and effective for absorbably dispensing ink to said endless inked ribbon,

e. a plurality of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel by means of other portions of said partitions, said deformations defining a first ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with said re-inking member during the movement of said endless inked ribbon through said wall discontinuity of said third cylindrical compartment as driven by said friction ribbon feed roller, and defining also a second ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in a taut state in said print position, and

f. a removable base cover having a plurality of pin holes, said cover being attachable to said case by means of said pins and said pin holes, said cover having also a first and second substantially circular aperture which communicate with said first and second cylindrical compartments of said case when said cover is assembled thereon.

2. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 1 wherein said re-inking member is comprised of a cylindrically formed absorbent material suitable for absorbing ink and for dispensing said ink to said endless inked ribbon upon the establishment of a frictional contact therebetween.

3. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 2 wherein said first ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a pair of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel in straddling relationship relative to said wall discontinuity formed in said third cylindrical compartment, said pair of ridgelike deformations serving to hold said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with the periphery of said cylindrically formed absorbent material comprising said re-inking member when said endless inked ribbon is moved within said peripheral channel by said friction ribbon feed roller.

4. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 1 wherein said second ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a cluster of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel upstream of said print position and approximately opposite said first cylindrical compartment from said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction ribbon feed roller, said cluster of ridge-like deformations applying a dragging tension to said endless inked ribbon in the area of said print position as said endless inked ribbon is moved therethrough and in the direction of said friction ribbon feed roller.

5. A self-tensioning ribbon cartridge for use in encompassing relationship relative to a print wheel and a friction feed roller of a printing device, said cartridge comprising:

a. an endless inked ribbon,

b. a peripheral channel for movably housing said endless inked ribbon, said peripheral channel defining a print position of said endless inked ribbon adjacent said print wheel,

c. a plurality of cylindrical compartments disposed interiorly of said peripheral channel and communicating therewith by means of a wall discontinuity formed therein, a first of said compartments operably housing said print wheel and a second of said compartments operably housing said friction feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device, and

d. a plurality of deformations formed in said peripheral channel upstream of said wall discontinuity of said first compartment and said print position and approximately opposite said first compartment from said second compartment, said deformations applying a dragging tension'to said endless inked ribbon in said print position as said endless inked ribbon is moved therethrough by said friction feed roller.

6. The self-tensioning ribbon cartridge defined in claim 5 wherein said deformations formed in said peripheral channel upstream of said wall discontinuity of said first cylindrical compartment are ridge-like projections and wherein at least two ridge-like projections extend from one of the walls of the peripheral channel and wherein at least one ridge-like projection extends from the opposite wall of the peripheral channel in mating relationship relative to said two ridge-like pro- 1 5 jections.

7. A self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon catridge for use in encompassing relationship relative to a print wheel and a friction feed roller of a printing device, said cartridge comprising:

a. an endless inked ribbon,

b. a peripheral channel for movably housing said endless inked ribbon, said peripheral channel defining a print position of said endless inked ribbon adjacent said print wheel, a plurality of cylindrical compartments disposed interiorly of said peripheral channel and each communicating therewith by means of a wall discontinuity formed therein, a first of said compartments operably housing said print wheel and a second of said compartments operably housing said friction feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device.

d. a cylindrical re-inking member disposed within a third of said cylindrical compartments and effective for absorbably dispensing ink to said endless inked ribbon, and

e. a plurality of deformations formed in said peripheral channel, said deformations defining a first ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with said re-inking member and defining also a second ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in a taut state in said print position.

8. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 7 wherein said re-inking member is comprised of a cylindrically formed absorbent material suitable for absorbing ink and for dispensing said ink to said endless inked ribbon upon the establishment of a frictional contact therebetween.

9. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 8 wherein said first ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a pair of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel in straddling relationship relative to said wall discontinuity formed in said third cylindrical compartment, said pair of ridgelike deformations serving to hold said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with the periphery of said cylindrically formed absorbent material comprising said re-inking member when said endless inked ribbon is moved within said peripheral channel by said friction feed roller.

10. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 7 wherein said second ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a plurality of ridgelike mating deformations extending outwardly from the walls of said peripheral channel upstream of said print position and approximately opposite said first cylindrical compartment from said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction feed roller, said ridge-like deformations applying a dragging tension to said endless inked ribbon in the area of said print position as said endless inked ribbon is moved therethrough and in the direction of said friction feed roller.

11. In a printing device having a selectively rotatable print wheel, an inked ribbon, paper tape positioning means, incremental feed means for incrementally feed ing the inked ribbon and a positioned paper tape, and means for impacting the paper tape and the inked ribbon against selected type characters of the print wheel to thereby print data on said paper tape, the improvement comprising:

a. a mounting platform forming a part of said printing device and by means of which said print wheel and a friction roller of said incremental feed means are rotatably supported, and

b. a self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge installable on said platform in encompassing relationship relative to said print wheel and said friction roller, said cartridge being effective for feedably positioning said inked ribbon in a tensioned state adjacent and intermediate said print wheel and said paper tape and in cooperating relationship with said impacting means, said cartridge comprising an interior peripheral channel for movably housing said inked ribbon, a plurality of cylindrical compartments interiorly disposed of said peripheral channel and communicating therewith by means of a wall discontinuity formed therein, and a plurality of deformations formed in said peripheral channel effective for tensioning said inked ribbon relative to said print wheel and said friction roller.

12. The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 11 wherein:

a. said peripheral channel defines a print position wherein a predetermined length of said inked ribbon is positioned adjacent and intermediate said print wheel and said paper tape and in cooperating relationship with said impacting means,

b. a first of said cylindrical compartments operably houses said print wheel and a second of said compartments operably houses said friction roller of said incremental feed means when said cartridge is installed on said mounting platform.

ci a cylindrical re-inking member is disposed within a third of said cylindrical compartments and is effective for absorbably dispensing ink to said inked ribbon, and

d. said plurality of deformations formed in said peripheral channel define a first ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said inked ribbon in frictional contact with said re-inking member, a second ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said inked ribbon in a taut state in said print position, and a third ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said ribbon. in frictional contact with said friction roller of said incremental feed means.

13. The self-tensioning and ire-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 12 wherein said re-inking mem her is comprised of a cylindrically formed absorbent material suitable for absorbing ink and for dispensing said ink to said inked ribbon upon the establishment of a frictional contact therebetween.

14. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 13 wherein said first ribbon.tensioning means is comprised of a pair of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral. channel in straddling relationship with said wall discontinuity formed in said third cylindrical compartment, said pair of ridge-like deformations serving to hold saidl inked ribbon in frictional contact with the periphery of said cylindrically formed absorbent material comprising said re-inking member when said inked ribbon is moved within said peripheral channel by said friction roller.

15. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 12 wherein said second ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a plurality of ridgelike mating deformations extending outwardly from the walls of said peripheral channel upstream of said print position and approximately opposite said first cylindrical compartment from said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction roller, said ridgelike deformations applying a dragging tension to said inked ribbon in the area of said print position as said inked ribbon is moved therethrough and in the direction of said friction roller, and said third ribbon ten sioning means is comprised of a ridge-like deformation formed in said peripheral channel on the downstream side of said friction roller and an angular formation formed in said peripheral channel on the upstream side of said friction roller, said ridge-like deformation of said third ribbon tensioning means and said angular formation cooperating to hold said inked ribbon in frictional contact with said friction roller of said incremental feed means. 

1. A self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge for use in a printing device for printing on a paper tape, said printing device having a friction ribbon feed roller and a selectively rotatable print wheel with type characters disposed along the periphery thereof, said cartridge comprising: a. a case having predeterminedly configured partitions and a plurality of pins disposed normally to the case, such partitions forming a first, second and third cylindrical compartment each having a wall discontinuity, and forming also a peripheral channel communicating with each of said cylindrical compartments at said wall discontinuity thereof, said first cylindrical compartment operably accommodating said rotatable print wheel and said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction ribbon feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device, b. an endless inked ribbon movably disposed within said peripheral channel in communicating relationship with said wall discontinuities of said first, said second and said third cylindrical compartments, and in cooperating driven relationship with said friction ribbon feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device, c. a pair of ramps formed in said peripheral channel by predetermined portions of said partitions, said ramps being disposed in straddling relationship relative to said wall discontinuity of said first cylindrical compartment such that said endless inked ribbon is linearly disposed to define a print position parallel to an outer edge of said case, d. a cylindrical re-inking member disposed within said third cylindrical compartment and effective for absorbably dispensing ink to said endless inked ribbon, e. a plurality of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel by means of other portions of said partitions, said deformations defining a first ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with said re-inking member during the movement of said endless inked ribbon through said wall discontinuity of said third cylindrical compartment as driven by said friction ribbon feed roller, and defining also a second ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in a taut state in said print position, and f. a removable base cover having a plurality of pin holes, said cover being attachable to said case by means of said pins and said pin holes, said cover having also a first and second substantially circular aperture which communicate with said first and second cylindrical compartments of said case when said cover is assembled thereon.
 2. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 1 wherein said re-inking member is comprised of a cylindrically formed absorbent material suitable for absorbing ink and for dispensing said ink to said endless inked ribbon upon the establishment of a frictional contact therebetween.
 3. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 2 wherein said first ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a pair of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel in straddling relationship relative to said wall discontinuity formed in said third cylindrical compartment, said pair of ridge-like deformations serving to hold said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with the periphery of said cylindrically formed absorbent material comprising said re-inking member when said endless inked ribbon is moved within said peRipheral channel by said friction ribbon feed roller.
 4. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 1 wherein said second ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a cluster of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel upstream of said print position and approximately opposite said first cylindrical compartment from said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction ribbon feed roller, said cluster of ridge-like deformations applying a dragging tension to said endless inked ribbon in the area of said print position as said endless inked ribbon is moved therethrough and in the direction of said friction ribbon feed roller.
 5. A self-tensioning ribbon cartridge for use in encompassing relationship relative to a print wheel and a friction feed roller of a printing device, said cartridge comprising: a. an endless inked ribbon, b. a peripheral channel for movably housing said endless inked ribbon, said peripheral channel defining a print position of said endless inked ribbon adjacent said print wheel, c. a plurality of cylindrical compartments disposed interiorly of said peripheral channel and communicating therewith by means of a wall discontinuity formed therein, a first of said compartments operably housing said print wheel and a second of said compartments operably housing said friction feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device, and d. a plurality of deformations formed in said peripheral channel upstream of said wall discontinuity of said first compartment and said print position and approximately opposite said first compartment from said second compartment, said deformations applying a dragging tension to said endless inked ribbon in said print position as said endless inked ribbon is moved therethrough by said friction feed roller.
 6. The self-tensioning ribbon cartridge defined in claim 5 wherein said deformations formed in said peripheral channel upstream of said wall discontinuity of said first cylindrical compartment are ridge-like projections and wherein at least two ridge-like projections extend from one of the walls of the peripheral channel and wherein at least one ridge-like projection extends from the opposite wall of the peripheral channel in mating relationship relative to said two ridge-like projections.
 7. A self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon catridge for use in encompassing relationship relative to a print wheel and a friction feed roller of a printing device, said cartridge comprising: a. an endless inked ribbon, b. a peripheral channel for movably housing said endless inked ribbon, said peripheral channel defining a print position of said endless inked ribbon adjacent said print wheel, c. a plurality of cylindrical compartments disposed interiorly of said peripheral channel and each communicating therewith by means of a wall discontinuity formed therein, a first of said compartments operably housing said print wheel and a second of said compartments operably housing said friction feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device. d. a cylindrical re-inking member disposed within a third of said cylindrical compartments and effective for absorbably dispensing ink to said endless inked ribbon, and e. a plurality of deformations formed in said peripheral channel, said deformations defining a first ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with said re-inking member and defining also a second ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in a taut state in said print position.
 8. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 7 wherein said re-inking member is comprised of a cylindrically formed absorbent material suitable for absorbing ink and for dispensing said ink to said endless inked ribbon upon the establishment of a frictional contact therebetween.
 9. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon carTridge defined in claim 8 wherein said first ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a pair of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel in straddling relationship relative to said wall discontinuity formed in said third cylindrical compartment, said pair of ridge-like deformations serving to hold said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with the periphery of said cylindrically formed absorbent material comprising said re-inking member when said endless inked ribbon is moved within said peripheral channel by said friction feed roller.
 10. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 7 wherein said second ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a plurality of ridge-like mating deformations extending outwardly from the walls of said peripheral channel upstream of said print position and approximately opposite said first cylindrical compartment from said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction feed roller, said ridge-like deformations applying a dragging tension to said endless inked ribbon in the area of said print position as said endless inked ribbon is moved therethrough and in the direction of said friction feed roller.
 11. In a printing device having a selectively rotatable print wheel, an inked ribbon, paper tape positioning means, incremental feed means for incrementally feeding the inked ribbon and a positioned paper tape, and means for impacting the paper tape and the inked ribbon against selected type characters of the print wheel to thereby print data on said paper tape, the improvement comprising: a. a mounting platform forming a part of said printing device and by means of which said print wheel and a friction roller of said incremental feed means are rotatably supported, and b. a self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge installable on said platform in encompassing relationship relative to said print wheel and said friction roller, said cartridge being effective for feedably positioning said inked ribbon in a tensioned state adjacent and intermediate said print wheel and said paper tape and in cooperating relationship with said impacting means, said cartridge comprising an interior peripheral channel for movably housing said inked ribbon, a plurality of cylindrical compartments interiorly disposed of said peripheral channel and communicating therewith by means of a wall discontinuity formed therein, and a plurality of deformations formed in said peripheral channel effective for tensioning said inked ribbon relative to said print wheel and said friction roller.
 12. The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 11 wherein: a. said peripheral channel defines a print position wherein a predetermined length of said inked ribbon is positioned adjacent and intermediate said print wheel and said paper tape and in cooperating relationship with said impacting means, b. a first of said cylindrical compartments operably houses said print wheel and a second of said compartments operably houses said friction roller of said incremental feed means when said cartridge is installed on said mounting platform. c. a cylindrical re-inking member is disposed within a third of said cylindrical compartments and is effective for absorbably dispensing ink to said inked ribbon, and d. said plurality of deformations formed in said peripheral channel define a first ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said inked ribbon in frictional contact with said re-inking member, a second ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said inked ribbon in a taut state in said print position, and a third ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said ribbon in frictional contact with said friction roller of said incremental feed means.
 13. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 12 wherein said re-inking member is comprised of a cylindrically formed absorbent material suitable for absorbing ink and for dispensing said ink to said inked ribboN upon the establishment of a frictional contact therebetween.
 14. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 13 wherein said first ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a pair of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel in straddling relationship with said wall discontinuity formed in said third cylindrical compartment, said pair of ridge-like deformations serving to hold said inked ribbon in frictional contact with the periphery of said cylindrically formed absorbent material comprising said re-inking member when said inked ribbon is moved within said peripheral channel by said friction roller.
 15. The self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge defined in claim 12 wherein said second ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a plurality of ridge-like mating deformations extending outwardly from the walls of said peripheral channel upstream of said print position and approximately opposite said first cylindrical compartment from said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction roller, said ridge-like deformations applying a dragging tension to said inked ribbon in the area of said print position as said inked ribbon is moved therethrough and in the direction of said friction roller, and said third ribbon tensioning means is comprised of a ridge-like deformation formed in said peripheral channel on the downstream side of said friction roller and an angular formation formed in said peripheral channel on the upstream side of said friction roller, said ridge-like deformation of said third ribbon tensioning means and said angular formation cooperating to hold said inked ribbon in frictional contact with said friction roller of said incremental feed means. 